Well yes I see where you are coming from, public events aren't as great as just guild roleplays with something happening (like Caraick getting kidnapped) but I do think that there has been a large drop in player run and public events. But public events doing with guild success, well it isn't much but to me a guild isn't successful by having quite a few players, so you gotta have something.
But good to see you have an idea going on (with the Tournaments), a suggestion, maybe a annual celebration of the TAO's establishment date or reestablishment date, like in KIC we have our annual Irka Festival.